Alan Pardew: Mike Ashley is up for the challenge

ALAN PARDEW feels that Mike Ashley is still focused on giving it “a real go” this season with Newcastle United – and the Toon boss says he has been given “the opportunity” to stay in touch with the Premier League’s top six.

ALAN PARDEW feels that Mike Ashley is still focused on giving it “a real go” this season with Newcastle United – and the Toon boss says he has been given “the opportunity” to stay in touch with the Premier League’s top six.

Geordie fans are getting anxious at the lack of transfer activity at St James’ Park so far this summer, but with three weeks to go until the big kick-off, Pardew is calm over Newcastle’s patient transfer philosophy.

Pardew is also confident that he will hold on to star names such as Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse and, despite fresh talk of Demba Ba quitting, United are now dealing in days for his £7m release clause to expire.

And Pardew feels owner Mike Ashley is loving life in the hotseat and looking forward to the new season. He told the

Chronicle: “Mike, sensing it in him, wants to give it a real go.

“He got excited about what we did last year.

“We got very, very close to the Champions League and I think it has egged him on to really give it a go.”

And responding to the possibility of player sales, he said: “I don’t see that. I’m quietly confident that we’ll keep our players.”

Pardew feels that owner Ashley – who prefers to remain out of the media spotlight – is actually buoyed by last season’s achievements.

And growing sections of fans are now seeing that United’s stance on big-money signings in the unforgiving current financial climate is a sensible one, given the collapse of the likes of Portsmouth and Rangers.

Pardew added: “The fans have seen what he is trying to do. All the criticism of the past suddenly seems slightly shallow.

“He’s got the club on a good footing and we are looked at as a good model for other Premier League teams. Financially, we are sound.”

Pardew did have a positive message to fans who are questioning Newcastle patient summer transfer activity.

He said: “We can’t compete with the big boys unless we get Champions League football.

“Mike isn’t going to fund that. He’s made that clear, but he’s given me an opportunity to maybe do it anyway. I’m hoping the success continues and the fans appreciate the £260m of Mike’s own money he’s put in. He wants to see success.”